. . . And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead Credit: Alison Green
This year’s Pitchfork Music Festival saw a healthy amount of sun, a bit of sludge-punk, and handfuls of seapunks. The blowout boasted a broad lineup—the prospect of packing Wire, Lil B, Andy Stott, Pissed Jeans, and 42 other acts into Union Park for three straight days was impressive enough, and it largely worked out quite well. Sure, there was the occasional issue that put a damper on otherwise fantastic performances (the oncoming storm that cut Bjork’s glorious set short, the sound issues that plagued M.I.A.’s uplifting global dance-rap jams), but for the most part the weekend offered an intoxicating combination of driven punk, gorgeous folk, thoughtful rap, smooth R&B, and, in the case of Swans, some glorious ethereal metal. The musicians who appeared on the fest’s three stages often looked like they were ready to set up camp and stay for a few hours longer than their arranged set times required of them, and from Trash Talk’s rowdy appearance Friday afternoon till the moment R. Kelly released a set of dove-shaped balloons during “I Believe I can Fly” to close the fest there was as much to see as there was to hear. If you missed out you’re in luck: the Reader‘s talented photo staff spent the weekend running around the park to capture all the action happening onstage and some of what went down on the ground. —Leor Galil
